Carbone

The story

Carbone New York City: Italian-American Restaurant on Thompson Street

Carbone at 181 Thompson St. in New York City is an Italian-American restaurant that earned a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026. The kitchen works from the Italian classics and the red-sauce tradition of the neighborhood, with a room built for long dinners.

Chef Mario Carbone's cooking

Chef Mario Carbone grew up in Queens, where two Italian traditions shaped his cooking: the northern elegance his maternal grandparents preserved and the Sicilian abbondanza of his father's family. He trained at the Culinary Institute of America, then spent a year in Italy that deepened his connection to those roots. The menu stays with the Italian classics of his childhood, cooked with top-quality ingredients. Signature dishes draw on the culinary history of Little Italy.

The room on Thompson Street

The original Carbone occupies the former home of the classic red-sauce restaurant Rocco, and its neon wordmark glows over the old Rocco sign. Burgundy leather banquettes, gold accents, polished wood and marble create an intimate setting under soft art deco lighting. Captains in tuxedos designed by Zac Posen oversee the service, and artworks by Julian Schnabel hang alongside retro Italian movie posters and framed photos.